Spanning an era of cultural rebirth in Europe that harkened back to antiquity, the Renaissance was a time of change in design. From the late 1400s to the early 1600s, Rome, Venice and Florence emerged as artistic centers through the expansion of global trade and a humanist belief in the arts being central to society. Antique Renaissance furniture was ornately carved from sturdy woods like walnut, its details standing out against the tapestries and stained glass adorning the walls.
Renaissance chests, which were frequently commissioned for marriages, were often decorated with gilding or painted elements. Those that were known as cassoni were crafted in shapes based on classical sarcophagi. As opposed to the medieval era, when furniture was pared down to the necessities, a wide range of Renaissance chairs, tables and cabinets were created for the home, and the designs regularly referenced ancient Rome.
Large torchères of the Renaissance era that were used as floor lamps were inspired by classical candelabras, while marble surfaces evoked frescoes. The inlaid boxes being imported from the Middle East informed the intarsia technique, which involved varying hues of wood in mosaic-like patterns, such as those by architect Giuliano da Maiano in the Florence Cathedral.
Tapestry-woven cushion covers accented the variety of Renaissance seating — from conversation to study chairs — while bookcases for secular use reflected the migration of culture and knowledge from the church into the home. The aesthetics of the Italian Renaissance later spread to France through the publishing of work by renowned designers, including Hugues Sambin and Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. Centuries later, the 19th-century Renaissance Revival would see a return to this influential style.
Find a collection of antique Renaissance case pieces, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
16th Century Italy Ligurian Carved Oak and Chestnut Credenza Bambocci Sideboard
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Valuable ancient noble 16th century, Italy Ligurian carved oak and chestnut credenza Bambocci, sideboard with display cabinet. All original with exception ...
Chestnut, Oak
$16,251Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French Walnut Renaissance Grand Cabinet with Crystal Vitrines
Located in Sofia, BG
This magnificent and rare 19th century Renaissance grand cabinet with vitrines features intricate decorations heavily carved into the solid walnut wood. There are massive carved wood...
Walnut
Display cabinet, France, circa 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Display cabinet, France, circa 1870. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: walnut dimensions: height 175 cm width 125 cm depth 48 cm
Walnut
Renaissance Style Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Renaissance style vitrine cabinet is a stunningly beautiful masterpiece in white oak with superb carvings and detail. Note the fourteen carved figures, lion's heads and other su...
Oak
Antique Ebonized Wood, Gilt Bronze and Hardstone Cabinet
Located in London, GB
This cabinet is an exquisite piece of antique furniture, which is crafted from beautifully-contrasting ebonised wood, golden gilt bronze (ormolu) and colourful hardstones. The ca...
Multi-gemstone, Ormolu, Brass, Bronze
$75,000 / set
Italian Baroque Rosewood Cabinets
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Italian Baroque-style (Mid-19th Century) bone inlaid, ebony & rosewood cabinets with an arched "broken" pediment over a glazed front door & lower door with inlaid de...
Rosewood
1852 Ornate Italian Vitrine
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Italian vitrine from 1852 is actually four separate parts, it towers over you at ten feet high, and is absolutely majestic. It features a dove in flight on top of a cameo of foliage and garlands that rest upon the upper cabinet. This upper section is adorned with a large rams head in the center of the upper band. The front has two glazed door with etched glass flanked by Acanthus scrollwork and two corner shelves. Two gorgeous hand carved grotesques in the form of Wolfhounds support the upper case. The base cabinet has two hand-scalloped drawers separated by a large bull-calf’s head...
Glass, Wood
$4,100
H 29.75 in W 45.25 in D 18.5 in
Mastercraft Brass Illuminated Demilune Vitrine Cabinet, 1970s, Signed
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredible brass demilune display cabinet, produced by Mastercraft in the 1970s, features a mirrored and illuminated interior, exquisite textured top, a pair of glass doors and ...
Brass
French Art Deco Ebonized Glass Display Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
French Art Deco display cabinet in ebonized (black-polished) wood, featuring glass on all four sides. The cabinet includes a full-height glass door with a brass handle. Inside, it h...
Brass
19th Century French Vitrine of Kingwood and Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in London, GB
A fine vitrine in the manner of Francois Linke Constructed in kingwood, with gilt bronze mounts, in the Louis XVI Transitional style; rising from bronze foliate sabots, with gent...
Marble, Bronze
French Kingwood 19th Century Display Cabinet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style Kingwood vitrine, having gilded ormolu mounts, serpentine fronted with shaped glass panels, glass shelves within, foliate marq...
Ormolu
$555
H 53.5 in W 26 in D 14 in
Vernis Martin French Curio Cabinet Bronze Mounts and Hand Painted Panels
By Vernis Martin
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Distressed paint but structurally sound and tight, Vernis Martin vitrine with hand painted panels, bronze mounts and curved glass. Has working lockset & key. Three glass shelves all ...
Bronze
$3,352
H 49.61 in W 41.74 in D 14.18 in
Art Deco Spectacular Display Cabinet Vitrine, English, circa 1930
Located in Devon, England
Impressively wacky shaped and genuinely rare design is this superb 1930's English Art Deco Display cabinet. This beautiful cabinet is veneered in a lightly figured walnut veneer which has the most glorious patterning to the grain and retains a mid tone in colouring. The interior features a generously sized display area for your collection. There are three internal glass shelves . The beautiful astragal glass...
Glass, Walnut, Plywood, Bentwood
Moroccan Display Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
A stately and rare 1900s Moroccan vitrine. This beautiful display cabinet has traditional stylized intricate geometric inlay detail, two drawers, with glass sides , doors and shelves.
Glass, Wood
Art Deco Walnut 'Rocket Cabinet', Vitrine, English, c1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this fabulous and iconic Art Deco 'Rocket Cabinet' made in the 1930's and in veneered in a lovely mid tone walnut. Extremely hard to source and even harder ...
Metal
$10,500
H 44.25 in W 66 in D 20.75 in
Antique Italian 17th Century Renaissance Carved Walnut Sideboard Credenza 1600
Located in Portland, OR
A rare early 17th century antique Italian Renaissance carved walnut cabinet, Tuscany, circa 1600. The cabinet had been part of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum San Francisco (now ...
Walnut
$3,160Sale Price|20% Off
H 39 in W 29.5 in D 11 in
16th Century Period Renaissance Tuscan Walnut Credenzino
Located in Vero Beach, FL
16th Century Period Renaissance Tuscan Walnut Credenzino Italian 16th/17th century Renaissance walnut small Credenza with a rectangular top above a single drawer centered over a s...
Walnut
Pair of Burl Wood, Brass and Glass Showcase Curio Cabinets
By Tomlinson
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of china vitrine cabinets by Tomlinson are an excellent example of their timeless quality and design. This rectangular top cabinet features two doors with glass panels and brass...
Brass
19th Century French Demilune Vitrine Display Cabinet
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Embrace the timeless allure of our antique demilune-shaped vitrine and china cabinet, Beautifully finished in a warm, inviting red stain. T...
Brass
20th Italian Renaissance style display cabinet
Located in Buggiano, IT
Italian Renaissance style display cabinet of 1900 original in hand-carved solid ebonized fir, with two original glass doors of the time. Patinated cream white color. Three internal ...
Fir
Rare 19th Century Italian Vitrine Ferdinando Pogliani Style
By Ferdinando Pogliani
Located in Madrid, ES
Rare 19th century Italian Vitrine. Magnificent inlay work. Measures: 190cm x 110cm x 40cm. Provenance: Italian private family. Ferdinando Pogli...
Wood
Display cabinet, France, circa 1870. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Display cabinet, France, circa 1870. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: walnut dimensions: height 175 cm width 125 cm depth 48 cm
Walnut
Library from the interwar period, Germany.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Library from the interwar period, Germany. Very good condition. Wood: oak dimensions height 181 cm width 228 cm depth 47 cm
Oak
Historical library from the 1920s, Western Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Library from around 1920. The furniture is in very good condition. Wood: walnut Dimensions: height 190 cm, length 240 cm, depth 60 cm
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Henri II Style Hand Carved Walnut Vitrine
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This late nineteenth century French Henri II vitrine is constructed of hand-carved walnut and features beveled glass on three sides. Hand carved acanthus leaves detail the sides and ...
Glass, Mirror, Walnut
Sold
H 98 in W 32.5 in D 13.5 in
Tall Late 19th Century French Henri II Style Hand Carved Oak Bookcase or Vitrine
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Standing just over 8 feet in height, this tall, narrow late nineteenth century French Henri II style bleached oak bookcase or vitrine features two upper doors with their original han...
Iron
Portuguese Oratory from the 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Oratory Portuguese from the 17th century, in carved and gilded wood decorated with windings and fantastic animals. Christ in polychrome wood. Some defects. Dim.: (total) 206 x 90 x ...
Wood
Renaissance Library, France, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
The original Renaissance-style library is from France. Made of walnut wood, door leaves and sides are glazed with original crystal glass. The furniture has tilted storage compartment...
Walnut
Sold
H 78 in W 41.75 in D 15 in
Late 19th Century French Henri II Style Hand-Carved Walnut Bookcase or Vitrine
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale late nineteenth century Henri II walnut bibliotheque or bookcase rests on finial feet and features fluted columns flanking its glass doors. A simple diamond carving ...
Blown Glass, Walnut
Italian Walnut Vitrine / Display Cupboard
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Stunning early 20th C Italian carved and bleached walnut display cupboard. Three fixed glass shelves, 1920 Dimensions: 59 inches (150 cms) wide 21 inches (53 cms) deep 89.5 inc...
Walnut
Antique Corner Cabinet, Scandinavia, circa 1910
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique corner site from the early 20th century. Dimensions: Height 155 cm / width 90 cm / depth 53 cm.
Mahogany